For the purpose of expansion of Russian export potential and implementation of the cooperative project between the RF and PRC called “Beijing Program” (http://barley-malt.ru/?cat=106&lang=en) directed to production of trade malting barley in the territory of the RF and further export to PRC and SCO countries, developed together with the Ministry of Agriculture and Economic Development Ministry, approved by Intergovernmental Russian-Chinese Commission for Preparing Regular Summit Conferences and the Presidential Experts Directorate, the Union “Barley, Malt, Hops & Beer in Russia” and the National Union of Grain Producers (hereinafter referred to as Unions)have finalized the first stage of the program planned for the year of 2013.

Within the framework of the project, with the participation of China National Institute for Food and Enzyme Industry, representatives of malt and brewing industry in PRC, CJSC “Bayer”, Berlin Technical University and Munich Technical University, Unions organized and carried out variety tests of malting barley of Russian and foreign selection in the territories of Altai, Novosibirsk and Omsk regions in order to define optimal lines and varieties, agricultural technologies for cultivation and also malt and brewing parameters of barley varieties.

Variety tests have been carried out by the well-known research and state institutions in the territory of Siberian District:

1. Altai Scientific and Research Agricultural Institute (Barnaul).

2. FSBI of State Variety Commission in the Novosibirsk Region (Novosibirsk).

Malting barley seeds have been provided by European selection companies (KWS, Syngenta, Limagrain, Saatzucht Josef Breun) and by Russian scientific and research institutes. 10 varieties of European selection, 3 varieties and 4 barley lines of regional selection have been tested. All variety names have been encoded and sown to the plots by three-time replication. During the vegetative period the plots have been treated by plant protecting agents and according to the experimentation methods a record-keeping has been carried out. Unfavorable weather conditions (heavy rains from the end of July till the beginning of September) delayed harvest works and had a negative impact on quality parameters of the harvested malting barley samples. Obtained seed samples were sent to China National Institute for Food and Enzyme Industry for integrated research. Russian barley samples were compared with barley samples from Australia and the USA. Russian samples were behind only in germination (steady rains during harvesting not typical for Siberian climate influenced negatively on germination) but according to the other parameters (high coarseness, low protein level, high extractivity etc.) our samples far exceeded control ones. As for possible purchase of Siberian trade malting barley with these parameters, representatives of malt and brewing industry from PRC gave a positive answer: “Optimally for using as unmalted grain materials with a small discount compared to malting barley with high germination parameters.”

1. Varieties of European selection and some local varieties (Omsky-90) demonstrate good results in yield, coarseness, protein level and resistance to diseases and pests in the territory of Siberian District.

2. All varieties excluding four Russian lines provided by Siberian Research Institute of Agriculture (very high level of protein) have all chances to win according to two-year tests and to be recommended for industrial use for export to PRC and other SCO countries.

3. It is necessary to replace malting barley seeds of those varieties participated in Beijing Program 2013 and to permit new European and Russian varieties for tests.

4. To continue work with CJSC “Bayer” focused on the development of the optimal scheme for plant protection and studying of the agro technological cultivation map.

5. According to the results of 2014 it is necessary to define three best varieties taking into account agro technological and malt parameters and to recommend them for industrial use and for inclusion into the State Register for Selection Achievements.